From July 2014, the destination of Flims will ban mountain bikers from four hiking trails. This affects the Panorama Trail near Nagens, the High Trail near the Segneshütte, the Kretenweg Mutta Höhe in the direction of Conn and the Rhine Gorge between Castrisch and Versam Station.

First the Runca Trail was destroyed by a storm, and now four of the most popular trails are subject to time restrictions. Is there a trend reversal against mountain bikers in Flims?
No, not at all! These two events have nothing to do with each other. The time restriction must also be seen in proportion: We're talking about 22 out of around 250 kilometers of singletrack around Flims. This restriction is not against mountain bikers, but for hikers. We have many user groups here in Flims and try to satisfy everyone.Despite this: Flims used to do a lot for mountain bikers, now there are more and more restrictions. Why is Flims now focusing more on hikers?
That's not true. Previously, there were only trails that were closed to hikers and none that were closed to bikers. For example, the Runcatrails and the Never End. Both trails are completely closed to hikers. In the long term, this measure will even have a positive impact on the mountain bike infrastructure.

How can a closure have a positive impact for mountain bikers?
As mentioned, we have to take into account the needs of different user groups. We are indeed planning new offers for mountain bikers. We want to expand the existing network, and for this we need the consent of other users. We are talking about authorities, voters, nature conservation, as well as hikers' and hunters' associations. We are aware that we need to expand our network for mountain bikers in order to remain attractive. Just as we need to maintain an attractive offer for hikers.

That sounds like horse-trading and not a concrete strategy.
No, it's a concrete strategy, part of a larger plan. For example, we have also removed several hiking trails and turned them into bike paths and are planning a road overpass in Staderas. This approach has already proved to be the right one in other cases. On the Runcatrail, for example, we initially had major problems with the hunters. Now we have minimally restricted access during the hunt. The result is that we have a better basis for negotiation with the hunters, we are taken seriously and listened to sympathetically

What is the basis for the analysis that there are conflicts on these routes? This finding is based on our discussions with various user groups. We haven't launched a study, but we can sense this from the mood in Flims. We want to act proactively and prevent user conflicts before they arise.

Isn't that precisely the danger of simply making decisions for thousands of mountain bikers without any solid evidence? This decision is based on the strategy of unbundling and was made on the basis of experience and various discussions with authorities and experts. However, it should be obvious to everyone that the most popular hiking routes are not suitable for biking. In the Rhine Gorge, for example, it is no fun for either hikers or mountain bikers when there is a lot of traffic. Mountain bikers constantly have to dismount and hikers can't enjoy the experience of nature.Is the hiker a species worth protecting?
Yes, the weaker person should always be protected. Just like in road traffic. The biker is simply faster than the hiker, which poses dangers.

How did the duration from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. come about? That practically corresponds to a full closure.
It's a matter of unbundling. If you're on the road before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m., then we hope you have fun. We are imposing this time restriction because we want to prevent driving bans.

So you no longer believe in coexistence?
But I am convinced that coexistence works on 95 percent of the trails. But what mountain biker would believe that coexistence works on the Runcatrail? And these four sections of trail that we have imposed the time restriction on are simply the most frequently used trails and some of them are even very exposed and narrow.

What are the repression measures?
There won't be any. We are relying on understanding, and I am convinced that every mountain biker can understand why we are doing this.

Should mountain bikers expect further trail closures in Flims?
We will continue to focus very strongly on mountain bikers in the future and will continue to expand our good infrastructure. There will be even more single trails and they will be well maintained. If everything goes according to plan, we will be able to offer even more downhill trails.